How to make a Windows 7 system image. Creating an image from a protected disk. Create an iso image from files using the imgBurn utility
In order to have something to use to restore the Windows 7 operating system in the event of a failure, you must first create these recovery tools. How?
We press the Start button, then click “Control Panel”, there we open “System and Security” and, finally, we get to what we are looking for, namely “Backup and Restore”.
"Creating a system image" and
"Create a system repair disc."
The Windows 7 system recovery disk is a boot disk, you insert it into the CD/DVD drive, and the computer boots (!) with boot disk, and not from the C: drive, from which for some reason the download does not occur.
Using a boot disk, you can boot your computer if your PC operating system is not working. After booting your PC from the Windows 7 system recovery disc, you can restore your PC's operating system. And for this you will already need a system image.
Windows 7 system image is an archive operating system in the state it was at the time of its archiving. That is, a system image is an archived copy of the OS that allows you to subsequently restore an operating system that completely matches the operating system at the time of archiving. What was archived is what we got as a result of system recovery!
A Windows 7 system recovery disc only needs to be created once. The same cannot be said for the Windows 7 system image. Since the operating system is constantly changing and supplemented, the more often we create a Windows 7 system image, the more accurately we can restore the system from the image saved in the archive.
How to create a Windows 7 system recovery disc?
Click on the proposed option “Create a system repair disk” and follow the instructions displayed on the screen. To create a system recovery disk, we will need a CD/DVD device with the ability to record discs on it, and we will need one blank CD or DVD blank. It is better to use non-rewritable discs for this, so as not to accidentally erase this very important disc later.
The Windows 7 system recovery disk created in this way must be carefully labeled, as recommended by the Backup and Restore program, and placed somewhere where it can be retrieved in an emergency.
If you use mobile device(for example, a laptop or netbook), then it is better to carry a system recovery disk with you. You never know what can happen on a trip?!
If your PC does not have a device for recording CD/DVD discs, then you need to use an external device connected via . There is no other way!
Same external device It will also be needed when restoring the system in the event of a system failure. Therefore, it is better to take such an external device with you on trips if you plan to actively work on the PC on the road and outside the home (or office) with possible disastrous consequences for the operating system.
Creating a Windows 7 system image
To create a Windows 7 system image we need external hard disk . Moreover, this may be the same disk on which the . The main thing is that this external hard drive has enough space to accommodate the system image and user data archive.
Connect external HDD, and click on the “Create a system image” option. After some thoughtfulness, the computer will offer to choose one of possible drives, onto which you can write a system image. Select the external hard drive (in our example, this is external drive E:), click “Next”:
Then a confirmation window for archiving parameters will appear, in which we must confirm the selected disk for archiving the system image. Confirmation is made by clicking on the “Archive” button:
After confirmation of archiving, the actual creation of a system image on the specified external hard drive begins. In the “Creating a system image” window, the green “Archive saving in progress” indicator crawls, showing how much archiving has been completed:
Before the system image is backed up, you will be asked whether you need to create a system recovery disk. We can answer “No”, since we have already made a system recovery disk using the appropriate option in the main “Backup and Restore” window.
If the system recovery disk has not been created previously, then it is useful to answer “Yes” to the proposed question in order to create this disk.
Let me remind you that a system image created on an external hard drive cannot itself be restored on a PC where the operating system does not boot. This is exactly why you need a system recovery disk:
Once archiving of the system image is completed, the message “Archiving completed successfully” will appear in the “Creating a system image” window. All that remains is to close the system image creation window by clicking on the “Close” button:
Thus, we created a one-time system image - an archive of the operating system for possible subsequent restoration in the event of possible failures.
In order for this system image creation procedure to be performed regularly, it is necessary when setting up automatic archiving check the box next to the “Include system image” option, as shown in the following figure:
We're safe now. We have a system recovery disk from which you can start your PC in case of OS failure. And we have a system image on an external hard drive from which we can restore the operating system to the time it was last backed up.
How is operating system recovery performed?
“You’re about to hear something that would be better if you didn’t hear it!” – said one of the heroes of the film “The Man from the Boulevard des Capuchins”.
What I mean is that it would be better for each of us not to encounter the problem of restoring the OS. But if we have to, we will know how to do it.
So, the PC is “dead” and won’t boot. Then we take the Windows 7 system recovery disc, insert it into the CD/DVD device and try to boot the computer from this disc. It doesn't always work out that easy.
Sometimes you still need to go into the PC BIOS to specify the option “ Initial download from a CD/DVD." I will not describe how to do this, since in each specific case, for each specific PC, this is done in its own way.
This is described in the documentation for the PC or in the documentation for motherboard PC, or in the BIOS documentation. Because BIOS menu most often written in English language, That keyword when searching for the corresponding menu options, there should be the English word “boot” (read as “boot” with long sound“u”, and is translated as “loading”).
After booting the PC using the system recovery disk, connect the external hard drive with the system image saved on it to the USB port of the PC. Then select the appropriate options from the proposed menu for restoring the system from a system image. We indicate that the system needs to be restored, that the system image is stored on such and such an external hard drive. That's all. Further work The recovery program does it automatically. You just need to be patient and under no circumstances turn off the PC until the recovery is complete.
Upon completion of system recovery from the system image, you need to remove the system recovery disk from the CD/DVD device, mentally thank it for the services provided (!), and put it back in its original place until next case(It would be better if this case never happened again!).
And then you should restart your PC. If everything went well, then to our joy and satisfaction the system will return to the state in which it was at the time the archived copy of the system image was created.
And if not? So, no luck...
"Rounding"
It is impossible to complete the repair, it can only be stopped - so says popular wisdom. Also with issues of archiving and restoring the system and data. There is no end to the methods and methods of performing these procedures.
Therefore, we need to wrap things up.
What other ways are there to restore the operating system? There are a lot of things.
For example, some users go so far as to install two operating systems on their PC, such as Windows and Linux. And they work with Windows until it fails. After Windows failure they download Linux and use its tools to manually restore Windows.
- So it is possible?
- Why not. If this helps in restoring Windows.
You can have two C: drives with Windows operating systems preinstalled on them. One stands inside the PC, the other lies on a shelf (in a drawer, etc.) and waits for its turn. If something happens, we remove one disk from the PC and insert another. Expensive? Yes, but it’s reliable and practical!
To protect user data, you can use the so-called, which allows you to store user data (all or part) on remote server. Access this remote disk on the server is carried out via the Internet. All issues of data safety and recovery in case of possible failures are taken over by the company providing access to the cloud.
It’s a pity that you can’t store operating system files in this way, although who forbids, for example, recording a system image during archiving to a cloud disk? Please…
The list of ways and methods can be continued indefinitely. It is important for us not so much to understand the methods themselves, but to recognize the fact that both the operating system and user data need to be archived. You need to do this periodically, don’t forget to do it, don’t be lazy to do it.
And then you can be almost sure that the system and data will be safe and sound. Almost? Yes, almost, since His Majesty’s chance cannot be discounted. You might get lucky, or you might not.
Those who archive the operating system and their own data have much better luck and much more often. Tested empirically by millions of PC users. Proven in practice.
I suggest you join the majority of lucky people.
– When was the last time you backed up your operating system and your data? Never?! Last year?! Last week?! Yesterday?!
– I’ll do it today!!!
To do this, you need to connect an external drive or flash drive formatted in NTFS to your computer, and then go to the “Control Panel” and select the “Backup and Restore” section. A dialog box will open, on the left side of which you need to select the “Create a system image” item.
Now you have to answer the system’s question “Where should the archive be saved?” Use local hard Not recommended. In the event of a virus attack or illiterate user actions, it is often impossible to restore the system from it. It is better to choose one that is pre-connected to the computer external storage. Can also be used DVDs, but this is less convenient.
Under no circumstances may you edit the received archival copy. Any change to the received data will make it impossible to restore the system from this archive file.
Now you need to select the disks that will be archived. If on external drive There is enough space, and you have a lot of free time, it is better to tick all local drives. Then you can be sure that all your data will be recovered. Otherwise, choose to archive system disk C.
In the next dialog box, to confirm the selected parameters, click on the “Archive” button. This will start the system archiving process and in the dialog box you will see the green “Archive saving in progress” indicator moving. It shows what stage the process is at.
When the creation of the system image is completed, another program window will appear asking you to create a “System Repair Disk”. If you have not done so before, you must agree and click the “Yes” button. After all, if the operating system does not boot, then without this disk it will be impossible to restore the created image.
When archiving is complete, a notification “Backup completed successfully” will appear in the “Create a system image” window. Click the "Close" button to exit the program.
How to create an operating system image using Acronis True Image
Compared to a standard archiver, the application has advanced capabilities. Launch the program and in the main window click on the “Create archive” item. Now you need to choose which disk partition will be saved. To create copy of Windows, you need to click on the “My Computer” menu item and select the hard drive on which the operating system was installed. Typically this drive is the C drive.To ensure that archives with the latest state of the operating system are always at hand, it is recommended to set an automatic backup schedule in the program settings.
The next dialog box will describe the various archives that can be created when Acronis help. Simply review the program's offerings and click Next. Now you need to specify the location where the future archive will be saved. Take care to create a folder for archive files better in advance. As in previous method, optimal solution The archive will be recorded on external media.
Next, you need to select one of the archiving types, described in the previous window. The best option is “Creating a full archive” because it is completely autonomous and does not depend on other copies. In the Backup Options dialog box, check the first option, Use default settings, and click Next.
Over time, you may accumulate different images Windows. For example, you can create an archive of an operating system with or without drivers, a “clean” image or with already installed necessary programs. Therefore, in next step write a description of the archive so as not to confuse it with others. Click “Next” and Acronis will begin the task.
ISO is a standard designed to bring the structure of compact discs to uniform standards. ISO image in general understanding has now turned into a virtual version of a real medium with an operating system on board. The OS on it can be in a state ready for installation, or it can be launched directly from it - the so-called Live version.
One of the popular operating systems is Windows 7. Therefore, for installation, they often use the method of creating its image for subsequent installation. You can then burn it to a CD or flash drive. How to create an ISO Windows image 7, and will be discussed in this article.
Why do you need an ISO image of the operating system?
The first images appeared in the era global development CDs. And many wanted to have a copy of a game or operating system in order to be able to use it in the future. To do this, we used special grabbers and programs that completely copied the structure and data of the CD. This data could be written to another CD or deployed on a flash drive, thus making it bootable.
The image can also be used as installation disk For virtual machine, in which testing of the operating system will take place.
How to create an ISO image of Windows 7 from Windows itself
In order to create an image, you will need some source, for example a folder with Windows files or a real CD. The original ISO image of Windows 7 can be downloaded from the official website Microsoft. True, you will need an activation key that will help you use it in a legal way. But you can find a lot on the Internet various assemblies, which are downloaded completely free of charge.
So, there are two types of sources - a real CD and a folder with files on the computer's hard drive. It is worth listing several options with which you can create an image.
UltraISO - the most popular program for working with images
The program is shareware, i.e. in the Free version all functionality will not be available.
Main window UltraISO programs divided into several small zones. The top left window shows the structure of the current image. In the right window are its contents. The bottom left one reflects the structure of the contents of the computer on which the program is running. And on the right is what is inside the selected folder on the left.
By default, the image is created with the date in the name. We need to fix this and rename it in a way that is more convenient, because this is the entry that will be displayed when it is loaded.
To add files to a project, you need to select a folder or media in the lower left window, and in the right window - which files you are interested in. You can simply drag them with the mouse into the top window.
When the required set of files has been selected, you need to go to the file and select “Save As”. A dialog box will open asking you to specify the file name, its future location and format. Select “ISO file” from the list of available file types. By clicking the “Save” button, a progress window will appear, upon completion of which the file Windows ISO images 7 will be ready.
Let's move on to other options.
How to create an ISO image of Windows 7 on Linux
This operation in the OS Linux family slightly different from this procedure in Windows. In Windows you had to install the program and create an ISO image, but in Linux everything is ready out of the box. You just need to insert the existing media into the CD drive and enter a few lines in the terminal:
dd if=/dev/cdrom of=~/image_name.iso
This command will read data from the disk inserted into the reader and create a complete copy of it on the hard disk with the specified name.
List of programs with image creation function
Ashampoo Burning Studio Free. Free program With good set settings and functions. Nice and simple interface. Can both create images and write them to disk
CDBurnerXP is a compact application that comes with built-in advertising. But if you search a little on the developer’s website, you can find Portable version. Capable of recording, erasing, and creating copies of discs.
ImgBurn is distributed free of charge and has quite powerful functionality. Writes, erases and creates images.
PowerISO is a powerful combine that can handle almost any task related to images and disks. The only drawback is for full version you have to pay, and the free one has limited capabilities.
IsoDisk is a small utility that can quickly create a disk image from media in a CD drive. Weighs little, comes free and does only its job without overloading the user various settings and installations.
Conclusion
In this article, we briefly looked at a couple of ways to create an ISO image of Windows 7. This may be useful for those who are doing this for the first time or have forgotten a few simple steps.
More complex operations, such as creating bootable flash drive, are described in much greater detail and are beyond the scope of this article. In addition, you need to have at least basic computer skills. It is worth noting that manual creation boot image makes it possible to launch several systems for installation or even from a disk in the Live version.
Due to our own erroneous actions on the computer or a virus attack, it is not possible to download Windows 7 by any means?! Or the operating system boots, but working in it is simply unbearable?! If you are familiar with these situations and would like to correct the situation within a minimum time, you need to prepare in advance for such problems and sometimes (once a month/every two months) make an image of the system and, if necessary, restore the operating system by rolling back to the created image. Windows 7 has a built-in system archiver, which is very simple and intuitive, no need to install additional programs to create an image of your system, and even more so spend money on these programs.
How to make a system image of Windows 7? There are several ways to launch System Archiving, here is one of them. Come along the way
In the window that opens, you will see on the left "Creating a system image"- this tool will allow you to create a system archive once if you look in right side window, you will see a button, i.e. It is possible to configure archiving automatically. 
It is up to you to choose which method suits you; in this article I will describe both of these methods.
Creating a system image
Click "Creating a system image", in the window that opens, select the location where it will be stored system backup, the ideal option is an external hard drive, you can use a CD/DVD, but keep in mind that you will need a lot of them. It is also better not to use a local disk, since in the event of a virus attack, recovery from local disk not always possible.
After choosing a location to save the backup, you need to choose what to archive. If you have enough space, save all local drives. IN in this example I'll only save drive C.
In the next window, confirm our choice and click "Archive".
Next comes the archiving/system image creation process, which can take quite a while. long time, it all depends on the amount of archived space and the power of the computer.
At the end of archiving, the system will offer to write the data to disk, since I’m archiving to an external hard drive, I don’t need this, click “no”, besides, I don’t really want to write 32 GB :)
This completes the process of creating a system image, the backup is located on removable disk, the name of the WindowsImageBackup folder.
Setting up automatic system image creation
I remind you that we originally came along the way “Start-Control Panel-Backup and Restore”,press "Tune backup» , in the window that opens, select the location where the system backup will be stored, please note that the specified backup location must be available when it is launched according to a schedule. The ideal option is an external hard drive; CD/DVD is not entirely suitable, since it will not be very practical to spend several disks on each backup. It is also better not to use a local disk, since in the event of a virus attack, recovery from the local disk is not always possible.
In the next window, we select what we will archive or present the choice to the system, i.e. leave it as default, in this example I will leave it as default. Click "Further".
In the next window, select the schedule for executing the system image, I recommend once a month, although this is individual, it all depends on how often you make changes to the system.
After clicking "Save settings and start archiving", the archiving process will begin. System archiving can take a long time, up to several hours, it all depends on the amount of data and the speed of the computer.
I hope you never need a system backup, but situations are different and I strongly recommend doing it just to be on the safe side. archive image systems.
Good day, blog visitors.
Many users encounter a situation where they need to use the same plastic disk constantly. Or there is a need to save files on a CD/DVD in exactly the same form as they are. Previously, this tool was often used in relation to games, because Full time job plastic, quickly rendered it inoperable. Today I will tell you how to create an image disk iso in Windows 7. There are several basic methods, which will be discussed in the article.
It is immediately necessary to clarify that in Windows 7 there is no standard utilities, which can convert CD/DVD into format *.iso.
Application Ultra ISO It is considered one of the most popular among computer users. Creating a disk image or even making one from a set of files is not difficult. We perform a number of actions:
If you want to make a set of documents without a disk, do the following:
Choose separate files. Calling context menu, click " Add».
After that, go to the menu, “ File", and then " Save" Select the desired format.
Daemon Tools( )
One more at least popular program can safely be called DAEMON Tools . The application is considered one of the very first in this area. To interact, you need to perform a number of actions:
This program is great for gaming. Especially paid professional version, because it allows you to cope with different types protection installed by developers.
Alcohol 120( )
On par with the first two, we can safely call it. This application allows you to create, and subsequently use virtual images the most popular formats, including the above, as well as *.ccd, *.bin and many others.
The main drawback of the application is the license. Another version can be found by visiting torrent trackers.
So, let's do the following:
Download setup files. We launch them, and using the tips, we place them software on your device.
Open it, and then in the main menu select “ Creation…».
Click " Start"and wait for the end.
It is worth noting that the processing time various tasks may vary greatly depending on the medium. It could be five minutes, or sometimes half an hour.
If you don't remember where the image you need is located, go to " Conductor"and then in top line search, specify " *.iso" The built-in tools will find all files with this extension.
( )
Another convenient solution is. You can download the installer from official page . The application will delight you with its wide functionality and at the same time easy to use. Even any beginner can figure it out.
In addition, it is worth noting that even the official Microsoft support recommends this application for creating a download disk for your products.
It is just as convenient to use as the other tools described above.
If something suddenly becomes unclear, you always have the opportunity to watch a video on this topic:
Burning an image( )
It is interesting that all of the above applications only allow you to create virtual media, as well as interact with them in every possible way. The main thing that these programs lack is recording to another portable device.
There are many other solutions for this. Thus, one of the first and most popular previously is considered Nero. The application has a lot of functions. True, it will only help when using CD/DVD.
